Charles Alfred Winkler of Hondo went to be with the Lord on Friday, November 8, 2019. He was 86. He was born in rural Hondo, November 24, 1932 to Henry John Winkler and Frieda Elisa Koehler Winkler.

He was baptized on February 12, 1933 and confirmed on April 6, 1947 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He married Evelyn Elizabeth Grell on June 5, 1955, also at St. Paul Lutheran.

Charles grew up on a farm outside of Hondo. He attended the Vandenburg community school in his childhood, and he graduated from Hondo High School where he received a number of awards in FFA. Farming was his first love, but he worked at many other professions. He worked as a self-employed carpenter from 1952-1953, and again from 1972-1992. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1951, and was deployed by the Army to Germany during 1953 through 1955, during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Corporal. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3891 and served as Post Commander during 1979-1981. He worked as a mechanic from 1955-1961 for Jake Schuehle Ford in Hondo. In 1961 through 1966 he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission at Mason & Hanger-Silas Mason Co, Inc. (Medina Base).   From 1966-1967, he worked for DeMontel Furniture & Appliance as a licensed service mechanic. He also worked as a fireman for the City of Alamo Heights Fire Dept during the years of 1967-1972. After 1972, he again became self-employed as a building contractor and built several homes in the area.

He and Evelyn designed and built a new home back on the farm, and lived there until the present. His heart has always been in agriculture where he farmed and raised his very gentle Hereford cattle.   He also planted a small orchard of pecan trees, and he learned how to graft trees. For many years he grafted many pecan trees for a large number of people. He also experimented with scion wood from around the world.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his dear wife of 63 ½ years, Evelyn in April, and his sister Margaret Anne Balderach.

He is survived by his daughters, Karen (Robert "Skipper") Longstaff of Petal, MS, Lori Bradley of Hondo, and Julie (Scott) Barraza of Sandia, Tx; grandchildren: Sarah Odum, Rebecca Odum, Christopher Odum, Charles (Kelsey) Odum, Laura (James) Gardner, Cary Longstaff, Jack Bradley (Sacha Garvin), Lucas Barraza and Grace Barraza, and great-grandson, Finley Martin Odum. He will also be missed by their "adopted son", James Bradley, and numerous family and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, November 15, 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hondo, followed by interment at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section.